Last time, I wrote about how to be sure that you are saved and going to heaven. When you receive Christ, you are born again spiritually as a child of God. What do you do after you have been saved and become a child of God?

Just like a new born baby, the most important things are to begin to drink milk and to be cared for by someone who loves you. Becoming part of a church that teaches the truths of God’s Word and being cared for by a good pastor are the next steps. Beginning to read the Bible daily and learning to pray are essential. Fellowshipping with other believers is necessary for your protection and continued growth.

Understanding what happened when you received Christ is important to your spiritual growth and knowing your new identity. Salvation is not just the forgiveness of your sins, although that is a wonderful part of it! But its not like you went from being a lost and sinful worm to being a forgiven worm.

Actually, when you are born again (John 3:3), you become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) born into His image and righteousness (Ephesians 4:24). You are not a sinful, unworthy worm anymore, you are now a child of God, a child of the King (Romans 8:16)! You have a new identity! You are a new creation! Knowing this is important because if you continue to think and live like nothing changed and you are still an old sinner, then you will have a hard time walking in the new life God calls you to walk as a child of God (Romans 12:2).

You are now carrying eternal life in your spirit. You now have a relationship with God. Prayer is not just some spiritual discipline you must develop, but it is a relationship with God. You speak to Him like you are speaking to a father who loves you. That which God is working inside of your heart as you eat His Words and pray, will begin to transform your life and will begin working out of your life.

You are now united as one with Christ like a branch that has been ingrafted into a tree. The life flow that is in Christ is flowing into your heart as you walk with Him. The fruit that God desires in your life will be produced by the life of God that is flowing in your spirit as you abide in Him. It is not produced by striving, but by giving attention to abiding in relationship with the Lord and being responsive to Him.

Jesus sent His Spirit to live in us and lead and help and teach us. A vital part of growing up in Christ is to be filled with Holy Spirit and to live a spirit-filled and guided life. The Apostle Paul in Acts 19 went to Ephesus and found some that called themselves disciples. His first question to them was: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

He was not testing their theology with this question. He was showing the importance of being immersed in the Holy Spirit after you believe in Jesus. It was his top priority. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will help us to be His witnesses. As His witness, you begin to share the gospel with others and lead them to Christ. And now you have come full circle, from being saved to living a life that leads others to Christ.

Jason Haskell is pastor of New Creation Church in Craig and a missionary to the nations. He can be reached at: pastorjason@ncccraig.com.